The Ole Miss men and women’s tennis teams will begin the 2011 season ranked No. 18 in the nation as the preseason ITA National Rankings were announced Tuesday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.The nine-time defending SEC West Champion men’s team returns five of the top six from last year’s team including the nation’s No. 2 ranked doubles tandem, Marcel Thiemann and Chris Thiemann. After going 10-1 in the SEC last year playing No. 1 doubles, the duo captured the ITA Southern Regional title and reached the final at the USTA/ITA National Indoor this past fall.

Marcel Thiemann, who became the 25th All-American in the history of the program last year, is ranked No. 32 in singles.

The defending SEC West Champion women’s squad returns five of the top six from last year’s NCAA Sweet Sixteen team including Grenada native Kristi Boxx.

The All-American is ranked No. 21 in the nation in singles and No. 22 in doubles with junior Abby Guthrie. Germantown, Tenn., native Connor Vogel is ranked No. 124 in singles.

Ole Miss is one of 16 teams in the country to have both its men’s and women’s tennis teams ranked in the top 25, as the men also earned a No. 18 ranking. (January 6, 2011, Page 7)